THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran may reconsider an eight-year jail term for an American journalist during her appeal, the judiciary spokesman said Tuesday in an indication her sentence will be commuted.
The statement was the latest hint Iran could be backing off from the imprisonment of 31-year-old Roxana Saberi on charges of spying for the U.S. On Monday, the judiciary chief ordered a full investigation into the case, a day after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged Tehran's chief prosecutor to ensure Ms. Saberi be allowed a full defense during her appeal.
The case has been a source of tension with the U.S. at a time when President Barack Obama is trying to open a dialogue with Iran to end a decades-long diplomatic standoff. The U.S. has called the accusations against Ms. Saberi, a dual American-Iranian citizen, baseless and demanded her release. >>> Associated Press | Tuesday, April 21, 2009
